Debra Smith:
CLASS OF 1970
Lake Forest High SchoolClass of 1970
Lake forest, IL
Monterey Institute of TouchClass of 1992
Carmel valley, CA
Pepperdine UniversityClass of 1974
Los angeles, CA
Palos Verdes High SchoolClass of 1970
Palos verdes estates, CA
Pine Grove Junior High SchoolClass of 1966
Orinda, CA
Debra's Story
29 December 2012
Well, I did not renew, so cannot do much within this site. If you want to find out more about me, you may visit me at my blog. creationsbydjamesonsmith add dot com slash blog...don't know if this will work for a post, but good bye.
18 June 09
(ongoing entries --newest to oldest-- till I run out of space ^,^)
MY CURRENT LIFE:
Well, our summer 2008 in Europe was the best spent money I've experienced! My daughter (now 21) and I had a wonderful time staying in hostels, meeting so many people from all over the world, experiencing the local cultures first hand and want to get back there just as quickly as we can!!
...But we came home to a crashing economy, so that took the wind out of the sails pretty quick. And I've been trying to keep above water ever since!
I guess one word describes my life right now pretty well...BUSY!
I am almost finished with a children's fiction chapter book (yay) & presently looking for an illustrator for the artwork; I'm still very active in my church (over and above regular Sunday attendance)--a bit too much right now--summer means Girlfriends! activity groups for the ladies & I head up three (yes, I know I'm crazy!); substitute teaching 1,2,3rd graders at Sunday school when I am in town or not otherwise occupied; then my friend and I go on photo 'walks' at least twice a week (keeps me in shape for my annual Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk each September); work in the yard (love gardening, but the *house* and yard need more care than I can possibly manage right now); taking two weekend art courses (jewelry how-to & bookmaking class) & sports car activities have kinda taken a back seat, but I still get out with my Miata (definite unwind-time!) and drive down the coast...top down, hair flying, smiling face...
...hmmm... have I left anything out?
Oh, yes...keeping my fledgling businesses (Creationsbydjamesonsmith & massage by djamesonsmith) alive so I can survive! Neither are exactly must-have items in this economy, so I'm trying to be creative with my PR -- lol...doing Chair Massage Parties for my church friends--sorta like Tupperware Parties (the social aspect) --doing chair massage at the party for host & friends & selling discounted appointments for full-body massages instead of kitchen appliances! Seems to be working (yay)!
Now if I can just find a way to promote my online business...may need to go to the schools and offer free storytelling for the kids over the summer, and harass my friends for the personalized storybooks ^,^ -- if I can find the *time* -- not enough hours in the day!! With Fall only three short months away, things will lighten up and I'll have more time to promote...
All in all, I really am having fun with life...just wish I didn't have to try so hard on the financial front (but I know I am in good company)! I do have a new idea to get me back to Europe! ^,^ I am taking German this fall (two years in high school...and our time in Germany made me want to refresh my knowledge) and have decided that I will use the connections I made (funny thing...Expand for more
how everyone I met was a teacher) in Europe to find contacts in the school systems over there, take my story-telling international (English-speaking countries first, then expand to Germany & any other country where I can master the language adequately -- obviously down the road a bit!!) and barter room and board for my storytelling abilities! ^,^ But that won't be till Winter, 2010 at the earliest. Must get financially stable so bills can be paid in my absence...then go have fun!!!
Jan, 2008
MY LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL:
I was going to be a teacher (tried Nat'l College of Ed & Pepperdine U), but was too impatient with how long & how much I'd have to get under my belt to teach elemenary school kids, so I ended up trying secretarial school then switched to Bryman School for medical assisting & loved it. I was a medical assistant for about 8 yrs before I decided (had one of those V-8 "I could have..." moments) that I really wanted to be a massage therapist--more hands-on than medical assisting & actually doing some good for individual. I love it! (Even though I'm retired from massage, I still give to my fellow lady church members at our annual retreat & they love it! So do I--the reason I want to start up again!!!)
I did stop doing that in '98 when my hands were giving me problems (going numb after a hard day of massage--NOT carpal tunnel syndorme, thank you very much). The timing was good, because just as I was trying to figure out what I was going to do, my mom passed away & it became my responsibility to take over the care of my dad (he had Alzheimers) until his death in '04...I have thought about getting back into massage, but I am the great procrastinator...then my husband of 31 years passed away from cancer last fall & I've been just trying to figure out what and who I am as a single person.
...AND enjoying the freedom of the single life. It's kinda fun! Getting back into the Pebble Beach Sports Car Club (rallyes, autocrossing, parties, etc) that I abandoned when Jamie (my daughter) was born, also diving into church activities--I did use my love for kids & have off and on taught different grades at church (been told I must be a teacher professionally--haha)--now I just help out with different activities & participate in different types of bible studies AND...My daughter (now 19 & a sophomore in college) & I have really big plans for summer 2008--we're going to take the life insurance money and really enjoy europe! We're both very excited. Jim told us to do it, so we are not feeling guilty at all--it being a death-bed request and all...Just wish he could be there with us.
I love art, even though it was squashed in school--too much book learning & not enough practical, hands-on work--and dabble in drawing & painting (nothing to write home about, but I like it...), crafts--love beading & wire art, love animals in general & WOULD have had a zoo IF my husband had let me....nothing stopping me now, I guess...except time...I'm not home enough to take care of them!
Well, that's me in a not-so nut-shell.... LOL
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